I have read so many wonderful books for teens this year. I am infinitely frustrated with stuffy grown-ups who think that nothing written for young adults could be any good, have any literary value, make a lasting impression, or be worth reading in the long run. I really hope that as the market is saturated with more and more amazing titles, these stodgy curmudgeons will come to their senses. In the mean time, the following are my favorite teen books for the year of 2008. Some are fun, some are serious, some are just plain amazing. In any case, you really need to read them.
Bliss by Lauren Myracle
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Myracle’s latest tackles so much in one volume, tying all the pieces together with neatness and eloquence. Peppered with quotes from 1960s media and politics, this story of culture shock, race issues, teen drama, and witchcraft is both spooky and enlightening. Bliss Inthemorningdew is a wonderful character that approaches life with the innocence of her hippie commune upbringing, but the intelligence of a wizened adult. This is a book that has managed to fly under the radar despite its intriguing nature – if you’re catching up on your 2008 reading, make sure you move Bliss to the top of your list.
Need by Carrie Jones
Another book that has garnered nothing but praise here at BookKids, Need is just the gothic fantasy to staunch your Stephenie Meyer withdrawal. With forbidden romance, evil pixies, and a moody, broody – but strong! – main character, it’s easily compared to the Twilight series. But what Need has that Twilight doesn’t is tight, well-structured writing, a plethora of facts about obscure fears, and a mythology that doesn’t bend to fit its character: the rules of Jones’ world apply to everyone. I dare say Need is better than Twilight, and that we gothic fantasy fans need to keep our eyes peeled for anything Jones has coming down the pike.
Diary of a Chav by Grace Dent
Already a popular series across the pond, Diary of a Chav is another book that’s been grossly overlooked by American teens. Ok, I’ll admit, the cover is pretty lame. It doesn’t exactly scream “awesome, funny, smart book about social politics and class issues with an awesome index of English slang.” But that’s what it is, and the fictional diary of Shiraz Bailey Wood cannot be missed by fans of Georgia Nicolson. I am so looking forward to the sequel, Posh and Prejudice, which comes out sometime this summer.
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
Nobody writes like Justine Larbalestier – she’s brilliantly funny, smart, and sassy. Her characters are one-of-a-kind and multi-faceted, not simply cookie-cutter versions of the girl next door. Her worlds are constructed so precisely that you feel that they are real, that you live there with the people you’re reading about. How to Ditch Your Fairy is no exception, taking place at an all-sports high school in fictional New Avalon – a place where people have fairies. Charlie has a parking fairy and wants nothing to do with it – her plight is both hysterical and poignant as we follow her daily life as she collects demerits and kisses, and hopes to find a way to be done with her fairy once and for all. I wrote a lot about this book in 2008, and I suspect I’m not done. Come pick up a copy and see what I’m talking about!
Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell
I just mentioned this the other day in my post about Printz-worthy Aussie writers. Everything Beautiful is one of the most touching, funny, important books I read in 2008 (and I read a LOT). Howell’s writing is honest, cheeky, and fun, and her character, Riley Rose, is just the same. She’s a big girl with attitude, an atheist with a chip on her shoulder, and yet she is completely accessible, hitting the heart of every teen girl that ever longed to love herself – and isn’t that all of us? Stuck at bible camp for a week, Riley has an escape plan for Wednesday, but by the end of Tuesday she’s already made an impression on the camp, and it on her – especially her new friend, a paraplegic, sort of cute, ex-bully. This book is absorbing, moving, and, most importantly, an extremely enjoyable read. I’m hoping to see more from Ms. Howell in the near future.
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